| "Superman Comes to the Supermarket" | |
|---|---|
| Short story by Norman Mailer | |
 Cover of 2019 edition by Taschen | |
| Original title | Superman Comes to the Supermart |
| Country | United States |
| Genre(s) | Essay |
| Publication | |
| Published in | Esquire |
| Publication type | Periodical |
| Media type | Print (Magazine) |
| Publication date | November 1960 |
| Pages | 119-27 |
"Superman Comes to the Supermarket" is an essay by the American novelist and journalist Norman Mailer about the 1960 Democratic convention. Originally published in Esquire as "Superman Comes to the Supermart," this essay was Mailer's initial foray into political journalism. It characterizes John F. Kennedy as a potential "existential hero" who could revitalize the US after eight years under Dwight D. Eisenhower to rediscover its lost imagination. "Superman" further develops and emphasizes Mailer's concern with the importance of the individual's will and creativity that must challenge conformity and obedience in American life to fully realize a genuine life. With "Superman", Mailer extends New Journalism by taking an active role in the narrative, which would characterize much of his subsequent journalistic style and lead to his Pulitzer Prize for The Armies of the Night in 1968.